Subscribe-Free!    Advertise    Calendar    Letters     Obituaries   

Colonial Greenway Close to Completing 15- Mile Loop

based on a presentation by Mamaroneck Town Councilwoman Nancy Seligson

(January 11, 2006) Mamaroneck Town Councilwoman Nancy Seligson has been working for years along with many others to turn patches of green, short paths and longer walks into a 15-mile continuous greenway loop. On Monday, January 8 she brought good news to the Larchmont Village Board: the 15-mile loop to be known as the Colonial Greenway is almost complete.

So, what do you need from us, asked Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld. Had she appeared as originally scheduled last month, Councilwoman Seligson would have been asking Larchmont to support requests for funds to complete remaining stretches in the loop. Although some rough spots remain, Westchester County recently provided $500K to close a large gap in New Rochelle.

At this point, Larchmont just needs to be proud of the effort, said Ms. Seligson. More maintenance, trail signage, and maps are in the works. Mamaroneck Town is looking for a small Community Development Block Grant to close another gap. But the goal is close to being attained.

Colonial Greenway
The Colonial Greenway Trail Map: click for larger image as PDF.

Some History

“The history of the original Westchester Greenway trail is interesting,” noted Ms. Seligson. She told the following tale:

1976: Thirty years ago, John Varvayanis, a high school biology teacher, wanted to hike between the many green areas near his home. After getting permission to walk over properties that linked the open spaces, Mr. Varvayanis returned to ask for one-time permission for his college alumni hiking club to trek the 8-mile loop. When the answer was yes, he realized a permanent pathway was possible with support of the private landowners. Over the next several years, working with state, county and municipal officials, nature conservancies and civic groups, Mr. Varvayanis established a trail system that runs through municipal parklands, county trailways, and nature preserves.

May 22, 1988 marked the opening of the Westchester Greenway Trail, a monumental achievement by Mr. Varvayanis that connected the Larchmont Reservoir Conservancy, Leatherstocking and Sheldrake Trails in Mamaroneck with Ward Acres Park in New Rochelle, Saxon Woods Park owned by Westchester County, and the Weinberg Nature Center maintained by the Scarsdale Audubon Society. The Town of Mamaroneck’s summer crew helped create a permanent trail which extended the Leatherstocking Trail past Old White Plains Road and through the Village of Mamaroneck. The trail eventually connected to Saxon Woods Park at Gedney Pond.

Here is the more recent history. Currently, the Westchester Greenway Trail is not part of the New York State Greenway, some trails are no longer maintained, and the pathways no longer connect. The Colonial Greenway will close these gaps, and develop common signage, maintenance standards, maps and logos that are so needed for the loop.

In the spring of 2001, Councilwoman Seligson learned of grant opportunities through the Hudson River Valley Greenway Act. Basically, joining the Greenway allows a municipality to be eligible for additional state funding and extra consideration for its grant proposals. “That sounded good to me for the Town of Mamaroneck,” said Ms. Seligson. “I thought that our area could use Greenway funding to improve our existing trail system. I walk and run on the Leatherstocking and surrounding trails and recognized the need for trail upgrades, standard maintenance and signs, and better blazes.

On July 18, 2001, the Mamaroneck Town Board passed a resolution requesting to join the Greenway. Councilwoman wrote the surrounding municipalities with connecting or close trails and asked them to join the Greenway.

Since 2001, Mamaroneck has been working with New Rochelle, Scarsdale, the Village of Mamaroneck, and Westchester County on this project. Larchmont Trustee Marlene Kolbert has attended many of the meetings. Although the trails are not physically in the Village of Larchmont, Larchmont owns the Larchmont Reservoir and trails therein. Eastchester is also interested in the project.

The Colonial Greenway project aims to enhance existing trails to create a 15-mile loop. This would be the longest continual path loop in the metropolitan area. “The runners clubs are very excited about it,” said Ms. Seligson. “There is a core group of representatives from each municipality that regularly meets to push the project forward. Noam Branson, Mayor of New Rochelle, has been very involved.”

What was needed? The group determined the basic outlines of the loop, worked with the county using GPS (global positioning systems) to create exact geographic locations, created a map, researched information for and created a brochure, created designs for the logo and blazes, researched and determined design and locations for signs, identified areas needing capital improvements, created capital improvement budgets, and applied for and received $15,000 from the Greenway to pay for signs and blazes. “One of the most difficult discussions was deciding on the name of the trail system,” said Ms. Seligson. .

“This past year we have been talking with the county planning and parks departments about funding and it’s been frustrating,” said the councilwoman. Though, officials were supportive, a funding mechanism was lacking. . The project needs $42,000 in Mamaroneck Town to bridge a gap in the trail on Old White Plains Road and another. $120,000 in New Rochelle to build catwalks and traffic safety measures. Westchester needs to improve maintenance on county owned trail as well.

“These improvements are required before we can officially open the trail,” said Ms. Seligson. Now, “after many fits and starts I think we finally have definite funding. “

“We hope to have an official trail opening in spring 2007,” she concluded.

return to front page Front Page

printer-friendly version Print This Page
send to a friend Email this page



Click for Larchmont, New York Forecast
Today's Events: click on event for details

Recent Articles

Powers Boy Transferred to NJ Hospital

Rains Fail to Dampen Mam'k Street Fair

More Articles




CAREER DOCTOR:
I'm About To Be Fired!


LETTERS:
-Feld's Budgets Exceed 4% Cap


Children's Librarian Retires After Reassignment

Biagi Kicks Off Against Latimer for Assembly

Star Tax Rebates Coming for 2008

Parent Voices Wanted: Online Drug, Alcohol Survey

Big Family Swims for Cancer Cure: July 26

U-10 Mustangs Score Perfect Soccer Record

U9-B Blue Pumas Undefeated

Dining Review: Sardegna

TEEN HEALTH: Hot, Hazy, Humid? Hydrate!

BIRTHS:
Yisrael Mendel


WEDDINGS:
Riley & Sutherland
Snow & Morgan


OBITUARIES
-Lee
-Shapiro
-Colin
-Perri
-Doherty
-Mucci
-Degen
-Dean


Boy Out of Coma; Charges Reduced on Driver

Historic Win: Tigers Are State Champs

Washington Sq Man Arrested on Drug Sales

Photos: MHS Prom Ends Year With Fanfare

Redone CAP Center Looks to Expanded Fall Program

Families Flock to Museum Explore-a-Thon

Little League Award Goes to Kahn & Schmitt

Designer One Wins Blue Division

Cancer Support Team Gala Celebrates 30th Year

LAX Senior Girls Score at First Travel Tourney

Mam’k School Board Okays $40.6 M Bond for Fall

DINE & WINE: 500 Cake

DWI Driver Identified

Manor Boy Unconscious

9-Year-Old Hit; Teen Charged With DWI

MHS Baseball Wins Region, Goes on to State

Commerce & Crumb Rubber Are At VOL Board

NY Senate Race: Who's Most for Tax Reform?

Turf Field Named for Holocaust Survivor

Rockefeller Awards Go to A.Wachs & B.Roberts

Girls Go For Scout Gold - And Get It

HMX Musicians Win Festival "Esprit" Trophy

OP-ED:The Bench - A Father's Day Tribute

LETTERS:
-Feld's Budgets Exceed 4% Cap


Mam'k Teachers & School Board OK Contract

Town Hears Namibian Plea, Reviews Reval Study

Assembly Votes to End I-95 Toll at Larchmont

Six Grants Go to Benefit Day Laborers

Chatsworth Elementary Revs Up Recycling

LMC-TV Celebrates Silver

Generations Join Tribute to Mamaroneck's War Dead

KidFest Leads Up to Redo of Children's Library

Feld Enters NY Senate Race Against Oppenheimer

Special Ed Director Boyle Named Chats Principal

Slain Umpire Honored at All-Star Game

As Flint Park Floods, New Field Stays Dry

TOM Parking: Bill Advances, Deck Delayed

Larchmonter Going to Morocco on Fulbright

MHS Grads Bike Across USA For Cancer Cause

Murray Gets Kids Walking to School

Teens Recognized For Their Service

Farm Market Opens With New Vendors: May 31

School Budget Approved by 68% of Votes

MHS Closed in Face of "Non-Specific" Threats

TOM Seeks Grants to Redo VFW, Add Affordable Units

Teens Talk, Adults Listen On Drinking & Drugs

Memorial Day Celebrated With Essay Contest

Locals March With Navy, Marines In VOL Parade

Spano Says Communities Must Rely on Grass-Roots

Schools Foundation Gala Raises Over $87K

St. John's Gives Bishop $35K for Tanzania

Lowey and LFD Chief Announce $73K Grant

Trivial Pursuit? HMX Handles the Challenge

Photos: Chats' Carnival Undaunted By Rain

Sheldrake Fest Conquers Parking, Weather

BOOK REVIEW:
Three Cups Of Tea


TECH TALK:Composting Is Easiest Way to Recycle

FOOD Q&A WITH LAUREN: Peanut Butter Muffins

Eye on Sports: Squirts at the Garden

TRAVEL: Hamburg's New Immigration Museum

TMFD Spans 100 Years

Where is the Class of 2007?

Larchmont Calendar of Photos

Tax Calculator: Where Do My Property Taxes Go?

Larchmont Scenes for Desktop Screens
Front Page   |   Terms of Service   |   Contact Us   |  About Us   |   Guiding Principles  

LARCHMONTGAZETTE.COM - Copyright © 2002-2008 Larchmont Gazette LLC- All Rights Reserved